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CAPSULE STRIPPING MACHINE. No. 430,858. Patented June 24, 1890.

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J. KREHBIEL. CAPSULE STRIPPING MACHINE.

No. 430,858. Patented June 24, 1890.

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CAPSULE STRIPPING MAGHINB.

No. 430,858. Patented June 24, 1890.

Wit-k ESEEE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOIIN KREIIBIEL, OF KALAMAZOC, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE KREHBIEL CAPSULE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE. W

CAPSULE-STRIPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,858, dated June 24, 1890.

Application filed October 21, 1889. Serial. No. 327,701.. (No model.)

To all whmw it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN KREHBIEL, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of IVIichigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Removing Gelatine Capsules from the Mold-Pins, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for stripping gelatine capsules from the mold-plates, said machine forming a part of a plantfor manufacturing gelatine capsules, as described by me in an application filed concurrentlyherewith. My invention hereinafter described refers specifically to the construction of a machine for pulling or stripping the gelatine capsules from the mold-pins after they are formed thereon by dipping the mold-pins into gelatine; and it further consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of the different parts, whereby the operation 2 5 of the machine is made entirely automatic, all as more fully hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical section through my improved stripping machine. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sect-ion thereof on line 00 m in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof with a mold-plate adjusted thereto for work and partly broken away. Fig. 4: is adiagram plan of two stripping-machines combined. Fig. 5 is a diagram elevation thereof, and Fig. 6 is a detail of one of the stripper-clamps.

A is a circular mold-plate provided upon its face with the usual mold-pins 13, arranged in rows at right angles to each other.

back of the mold-plate near the outer edge. D are notches formed in said flange, ninety degrees apart from each other, the diameters connecting them being parallel to the rows of pins, respectively. These mold-pins having been previously dipped into the gelatine in the usual manner, the capsules cut off at the proper length and dried are now ready for the operation of this machine, which is constructed as follows:

C is an annular concentric flange on the E are springclamps, each clamp consisting of two bars of spring metal with the front ends turned toward each other and provided with a circular notch or notches E of suitable size to form a clamping-jaw E, adapted 5 5 for the mold-pins. The notches, preferably, are made of different sizes to use the machine for dilferent'sized mold-pins. These clamps are arranged in vertical and horizontal series correspondingto the spacing of the mold-pins by being secured at their rear ends to the vertical bars F. The upper and lower ends of these bars F engage into sockets or slots formed in the upper and lower plates G and G, which form a portion of a sliding frame consisting of horizontally-sliding bars G", one carrying the upper plate and one carrying the lower plate, and two vertical connecting-bars I, which unite the two sliding bars G, the whole sliding frame being held in position by bearings lI upon a suitable frame into which the sliding bars engage. This frame is reciprocatingly actuated by means of the cam J, which travels between the two vertical connecting-bars I and is secured .upon the shaft K.

L are vertical spreader-bars loosely engaging between the spring bars of the clamps, one bar for each vertical row of clamps, and M and M are horizontal sliding plates simi- "8o lar to the sliding plates G and G, and which are similarly socketed and slotted to receive and support the spreader-bars L.

The sliding plates M and M form a portion of another sliding frame, which in addition consists of the sliding bars N, one carrying the upper plate and one carrying the lower plate, and of two vertical connectingbars 0 O', which firmly unite the upper and lower sliding bars N. The whole frame is held in position by bearings I, which are secured to the stationary frame and through which the sliding bars N are free to slide. This sliding frame is reciprocatingly actuated by a cam Q on the shaft K, whereby the 5 spreader-bars L are caused to spread the clamps by being forced between the inclined spreader-blocks R, secured in pairs to the spring-bars of the clamps.

In practice, the parts being constructed and I00 arranged as described and shown, it will be seen that if motion is communicated to the shaft K the cams J and Q-will reciprocatingly actuate their respective frames-that is, the frame which carries the clamping-jaws and the frame which carries the spreader-barsindependently of each other; but-on account of the different character and size of the two cams it will be seen that the frame which carries the spreader-bars, having a larger cam, will travel farther than the other frame. Taking the position shown in Fig. 1 as a starting position, it will be seen that the portion between a and d on the larger cam projects the spreader-bars farther than the portion a b of the smaller cam is able to project the spring-clamps, the difference being the distance between the points a and (1. Now this distance is made just sufficient to push the spreader-bars between the inclined spreaderblocks, so that the spring-clamps will be opened out. Now, if the mold-plate has been placed in proper position to enable the jaws to project over the mold-pins, it will be seen 2 5 that in the subsequent movement, wherethe portions 1) ,c and d c of the cams operate the respective frames, the spreader-bars will be sufficiently withdrawn again to allow the spring-clamps to come together and grasp the 0 mold-pins. In the subsequent movement of the cams the portions 0 con both cams being coincident will then simultaneously and at a like ratio of speed carryback the two frames, thus allowing the jaws to strip the capsules 3 5 off from the mold-pins.

The bars F, which carry the spring-clamps, can be adjusted vertically to bring the proper sized notches adapted for the size of mold pins into action upon the pins.

The whole machine is constructed in such a manner as to permit of its being readily dismounted and repaired and of replacing broken jaws. To this end the sliding plates G. and G and M and M are fastened by set 5 screws to the sliding bars which carry them; and, moreover, the plates G and G, which carry the clampingjaws, have removable frames G into which slots are formed in which -the bars F engage, (and which also have suitable slots to guide the bars L.) Thus the clamping-jaws can be removed without dismounting the machine.

The machine further comprises automatic feeding devices by means of which the mold- 5 5 plates are automatically carried into the strip ping position and removed as soon as the capsules are stripped off. Figs. 4 and 5 show the arrangement of this feeding device in connection with two machines for pulling off the capsules, said machines being placed side by side. This feeding device is constructed as follows: From the place of drying the capsules (not shown) an inclined rollway R leads to a point ashort distance from the strippingv machines, and from there the rollway is constructed horizontally, passing in front of the stripping-machines at the proper distance.

,by means of a sliding feed-bar S, which carries dogs T,which are adapted to engage upon the edges of the mold-plates, and which are actuated through a suitable connecting-rod U by a crank-ar1n V on the feed-wheel V, the connection of the crank-arm V with the feed-wheel being effected by means of a wooden pin \V, which is intended by its breakage to prevent any damage to the machine.

The feed-bar S, sliding in suitable hearings" on the rollway, preferably on top of the intermediate bar R, is provided with a suitable number of dogs T, and will thus step by step engage with anew pair of plates, drawing them into position in front of the strippingmachines, and then at the next step remove them from such position to transmit them to the action of another machine, (such as the greasing-machine described in application Serial No. 327,702, filed of even date herewith,) or, if desired, onto an inclined rollway on which they are free to roll away, or to an elevator at, as shown in the drawings, in which the mold-plates are carried away by the chain in. Itis necessary when submitting the plates to the operation of the stripping-machine to put them in proper position to have the moldpins register with the strippingjaws. To this end a locking-bar Y Y is secured to the rollway, preferably to the intermediate rail R, in such position as to enable it to engage into the notches in the flange 0 on the back of the mold-plates, and the portion Y of this locking-bar is yieldingly secured to allow the plate to roll freely in the rollway until the notches are free to engage with the locking-bar.

The portion of the rollway opposite the stripping-machines I preferably constructin any suitable manner to adapt it to yield, so that in case of any displacement of the parts the stripping-jaws and mold-pins do not register no damage will be caused, as the rollway is free to be pushed back against the action of suitable springs placed behind. The i11- clined portion of the rollway is connected with this yielding portion of the rollway by a hinged portion R.

In the drawings I show a vertical guideway connecting with the horizontal rollway in front of the stripping-machines.

It will be seen that the performance of the machine is entirely automatic, and the operator is merely required to exercise a general when required.

ITO

Nhat I claim as my invention is- 1. I11 a capsule-stripping-off machine, the combination of two reciprocating frames, one carrying spring clamping-jaws, which are provided with inclined spreader-blocks, and the other frame carrying spreader-bars, which engage in and are adapted to distend the clamping-jaws, and suitable cams whereby said frames have the described relative movements to each other and whereby the clamps are projected, spread apart, closed, and retracted again, substantially as described.

2. In a capsule-stripping-off machine, the con'lbination of two reciproeati n g frames, each composed of an upper and a lower bed-plate carried by sliding bars, which are connected by vertical cross-bars, a single shaft provided with two different-sized cams revolving between the vertical cross-bars of the frames, which reciprocate said frames and impart to them a relatively different movement, clamping-jaws carried by vertical bars stepped into the bed-plates of one frame, and spreaderbars carried by the other frame and adapted to distend the jaws by the relative movement of the two frames, substantially as describedt The combination, with the capsule-stripping device embodying clamping-jaws which are automatically projected and retracted, of a frame or way provided in front of the clamping-jaws and adapted to hold the mold-plates and present the mold-pins to the action of the clamping-jaws, and an intermittent feeding device which automatically feeds the moldplates to the clamping-jaws, substantially as described.

a. The combination, with the capsule-stripping device embodying clamping-jaws which are automatically projected and retracted, of circular mold-plates provided with a notched annular flange on the back, a frame or Way adapted to hold and present the mold-plates to the action of the clamping-jaws, a lock ing-bar on said frame or way adapted to look into the notches on the back of the mold-plates, and an intermittent feeding device, which automatically feeds the mold-plates to the clamping-jaws, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the capsule-stripping device embodying clamping-jaws which are automatically projected and retracted, of a frame or way adapted to hold the mold-plates and present them to the clamping-jaws, said frame or way being yieldingly secured in position, substantially as described.

6. The combination, in an automatic capstile-stripping machine, of a capsule-strip ping device embodying clamping-jaws automatically projected and retracted, circular moldplates provided with a notched annular flange on the back, a frame or way adapted to hold and present the mold-plates to the action of the clamping-jaws, a locking-bar in said way adapted to lock into the notches on the backs of the mold-plates, a reciprocating feed-bar on said way having dogs to engage with and feed the mold-plates intermittently on the way, and an inclined rollway connecting with said way to roll the mold-plates automatically to the way, substantially as described.

7. The combination, in a capsule-stripping machine, of two sliding frames, each consisting of an upper and lower bed-plate carried Y 'by sliding bars, which are yoked together, and

JOHN KREHBIEL.

l/Vitnesses:

Gno. A. GREGG, P. M. HULBERT. 

